Eric Backman

Eric Natanael Backman was a Swedish long distance runner who had his best achievements at the 1920 Summer Olympics. He won the silver medal in the 8,000 m cross-country race, 2.6 seconds behind the legendary Paavo Nurmi. This second place helped the Swedish cross-country team to win the bronze medal behind Finland and Great Britain, as two other team members finished 10th and 11th. This scenario repeated in the 3,000 m event – Backman finished second and other Swedes 10th and 12th; this time Backman did not receive an individual medal, but he again pulled up the Swedish team to the third place. In the 5,000 metres Backman finished third, again behind Paavo Nurmi.

18 May 1896

Born on the same birth day (18 May): Bertrand Russell • Boris Christoff • Brent Ashton • Chow Yun-fat • Clément Vincent • Mariusz Lewandowski • Oliver Sin

Born in the same month (May 1896): Dodie Smith • Felix Steiner • Herbert Backe • Howard Hawks • J. Lawton Collins • Josip Štolcer-Slavenski • Karl Allmenröder • Kathleen McKane Godfree • Mark W. Clark • Richard Day (art director) • Rolf Maximilian Sievert • V. K. Krishna Menon